Fourdrinier machine



Jan. 23, 1923. 1,442,848 P. K. BAIRD.

FOURDRINIER MACHINE.

FILED MAY 2, I92].

amvewto z Par/Tar H 5mm Patented Ian. 23, 1923.

UNH

ears

PAR ER K. BAIRD, or SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

' FOURDRINIER MACHINE.

Application filed May 2, 1921. Serial at. 466,111.

To all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that I, PARKER K. BAIRD, a citizen of the United States, residin at Spokane, in Spokane County and State of] Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fourdrinier Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in F ourdrinier machines, for use in the process of making paper and the formation.

of the invention being the provision of means for eliminating the foam or froth that is otherwise likely to develop on and in the stuff or paper stock as it flows onto the wire; and this means may be applied to other similar application for foam eliminationsl Inpaper making machines probably due to the agitation of the stuff, a. foam or froth is formed; consisting of air bubbles, which, if permitted to remain on and in the web being formed on the wire, results in causing thin and weak spots in the web as the web passes toward the couch roll. The presence in suflicient quantity of these bubbles, consequently weakens the web causingit to break, necessitating 'the carrying of the web throughthe paper machine again with resultant loss of labor, power' and produc- To overcome this objectionable feature, I

have found by experiment that the application of high tension unidirectional current to the field of the foam or froth causes a breaking, down and elimination of these bubbles, either mechanically or by neutralizing the charges of the colloidal foam-causing materials by the electrostatic discharge and ionization of the field, and this desired relustratedone complete example of the physical embodiment of my inventionfwherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. 1

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective, a portion of a Fourdrinier paper making machine, with the electrical device of my invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an electrical diagram illustrating the electric circuits.

clearly understood I have indicated pertinent portions of the machine, as the boxes 1 for the flow of stuff at the breast of the machine to the apronQ, which latter is made up of Wire screen in the form of arr-endless belt on the supporting rollers at the ends thereof, as indicated at 3. The deckle belts 4, 4 as'usual pass over the guide wheels 5, which are supported onthe side bars 6 of the frame which includes supporting pedestals' 7.

The endless wire screen moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure of drawing, and as the stuff for the web is-taken up on'the moving wire after the latter passes from under the roller 3 a foam or froth is likely to occur, forming a coating or layer of bubbles, and the presence of this foam, as before pointed out results in an inferior product, as well as causing waste of energy and production. I

To destroy and eliminate the foam or'bubbles I suspend'across the machine, transversely thereof, and above the upper flight of the apron a series of spaced electric air-- tennae S, in the form of wire, connected to end bars9, extending longitudinally of the machine. The bars 9 are supported from pairs of posts 10 attached to the side bars 6 :of the machine, and adjustable connections connected to one of the side bars 9 and the other feed Wire 13 is grounded on the side bar 6 of the machine to complete the electric circuit through the apron. A step-up transformer 14 and rectifying device 15 (Fig. 2) are interposed in the circuits to produce the high tension unidirectional current to the requirements of the electrical device including the antennae 8, and of course the usual boards, switches, and other accessories are utilized in connection with the application of electrical energy.

\Vhen the current of electricity is furnished to the several antennae 8, the field thereabout is electrically charged, and as the conductors are imposed directly over the apron and the web being formed thereon,

any bubbles or foam created in-the stuff on the apron will come under the influence of the electrostatic discharge resulting in the deformation of the bubbles or foam and thus preventing the formation of thin and Weak spots in the subsequently treated web with its deleterious elfects- The antennae 8 may be adjusted as desired to provide an electrically charged field directly' over the apron 2, to insure adequate influence'of the charge forfeliminatingthe bubbles or foam, and when this field is so charged the eliminating'of foam is accomplished.

While the invention above described I is applicable to use on the Fourdrinier end of a paper making machine the same means and devices may be employed in connection with other industries such as the rsugar- .making industry, or in connection with evaporators of liquors wherein by agitation or other causes a foam, froth or bubble formation is caused. In connection with sugar Having fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters. Patent is 1. In a Fourdrinier machine, the. combination with the apron thereof and"machine frame, of means for electrostatic-ally charging the atmosphere directly over said apron, for the purpose described.

thepurpose described.

v 3 high tension unidirectional electricity for 3. In a Fourdrinier machine, the combi- I nation with the apron thereof and machine frame, of transversely arranged electrical antennae imposed over said apron for the purpose described.

4.111 a Fourdrinier machine, the combination with the apron thereof and machine frame, of postson said frame, a series of spaced, transversely imposed electrical antennae imposed directly over said apron, side bars for supporting saidantenn'ae, supporting devices between said bars and posts, and electrical connections to said bars, for the phrpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PARKER K. enin 

